| The Irish wolfhound is a gift from the ancient past | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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What’s not as heavy as a Great Dane, at least 120 pounds and is bigger than a breadbox? That could describe many things, among them the time-honored Irish wolfhound. First off, the name “Irish wolfhound” itself is rather new compared to the history of the breed. Some of the best description of this lovable dog date back to AD 600-900, during the old Irish period. Reportedly, only kings and nobility on the Emerald Isle were allowed to possess wolfhounds, also known as “hound,” “Irish hound,” “war dog,” or “wolf dog.” Yet depictions of this vaunted wolfhound are found from as long ago as 365 AD, when they were used as war dogs for the Roman Army, especially in Britain. Whether or not the lovable Irish wolfhound of today bears great resemblance to its ancient forbears is a matter of speculation. However, not only Romans and Irish lauded the wolfhound. Celtic tribal chieftains and writers also celebrated this wonderful breed. At some point in its history was the Irish wolfhound used on battlefields? Yes. On battlefields around the globe, the Irish wolfhound earned the reputation of being a fierce opponent, who actually battled ancient warriors alongside its human masters. So, if it’s ever said of the Irish wolfhound that it was built for sport, I suppose the answer would be “Yes, sort of.” I guess a lot would depend on what one considered a sport. The Irish wolfhound is not as heavy or as wide as a Great Dane. But it should appear very muscular, though gracefully built. The neck and the carriage of the dog are carried high. Meanwhile, the tail is carried with an upward sweep and mild curve. Its head is long, with the frontal bones of the forehead slightly raised. But the skull is not too broad though the wolfhound has a long muzzle and moderately pointed ears. In fact, its ears are very reminiscent of those found on greyhounds. The neck is long and muscular, though well arched but without dewlap or loose skin around the throat (found on many dogs in the bull family). The chest of the wolfhounds is both deep and wide. The back is long and the loin arched.
Its belly is well drawn up, with male possessing two normal testicles descended into the scrotum. The recognized colors for the Irish wolfhound are: gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any color that appears on the deerhound. Its eyes are dark and its shoulders are both set and sloping. The usual height of the wolfhound ranges about 30 inches; therefore they achieve the height of 32 to 33 inches. With the dog’s head factored in, the height increases to about 34 inches. In the case of some larger dogs, the size can go to about 35-36 inches. The girth of the dog is about 38 to 44 inches in males, 32 to 34 inches in females. Male dogs weigh in at about 115-140 pounds, while females come in at 90-115 pounds. Exercises If someone were to have an Irish wolfhound puppy up to six months old, it should receive plenty of rest. Children and other pets should be kept away from the wolfhound puppy. A wolfhound puppy is growing fast and skeletal disorders can be caused by both poor feeding habits and incorrect exercise. It is for this reason that many experts recommend not giving formal exercise to wolfhound puppies for up to six months. Allowing them to play for long periods either with older wolfhounds or with smaller breeds has damaged many wolfhounds. Smaller breeds have more energy and can play for much longer periods than a young wolfhound. So the rule is recommended: Do not allow the puppy free access to either older dogs or puppies of smaller breeds. As part of its early upbringing, do not take wolfhound puppies under six months for proper walks, even very short ones. Give the puppy lead training, but that is all. At most, a wolfhound puppy can be given a few minutes of free time in a backyard or such. After six months a wolfhound’s exercise regimen can be expanded culminating to, when he or she is an adult, 20 minutes free exercise twice daily. Not known for being a warm weather dog, keep your Irish wolfhound out of the heat of the day and in cooler environs. Overheating can cause injury or even death. Buddy Amato is a Hazlet business owner, who operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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